PORTSMOUTH FC 1-1 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
02/02/10 At Fratton Park FA Cup Third Round
Team
Westwood (Konstantopolous 46), Wright, McPake, Wood, Cranie, Clingan, Gunnarsson, McIndoe, Eastwood, Morrison (Best 73) SNU Grandison, Ward, Hussey, Jeffers, Hall
Portmouth
Begovic, Finan, Kaboul, Wilson, Hreidarsson, Smith, Diop (Utaka 70), Brown, Hughes (Mullens 57), Boateng, Piquionne (Webber 78) SNU Borre, Basinas, Williamson, Ashdown
HT PFC 1-1 CCFC FT PFC 1-1 CCFC ATT 11,214
Goals David Bell (30), Kevin Boateng (45)
Referee P.Dowd
Booked Wright, Wood, Kaboul
Man Of The Match James McPake took the votes with nominations for Cranie, Eastwood and Westwood in our car.
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Coventry City live to fight another day after earning a 1-1 draw at Portsmouth in the FA Cup
We travelled to the South Coast to see City, with Jack Cork, Leon Barnett and Gary Madine unable to play, face a Portsmouth side who are at the bottom of the Premier League table and not in the best of financial health.
On a sunny but cold afternoon at a Fratton Park where City had not lost an FA Cup tie, the Sky Blue Army was out in force. The Apollo Stand End was packed full of City supporters from Germany, Wales, Gloucestershire, Dorset, Cambridgeshire, London and the home counties, Nottingham, Northampton as well as eight official coaches and car loads from Coventry and Warwickshire.
City, wearing their black away kit, attacked the home end in the first half and fielded a side which saw the return of Stephen Wright who had his left arm bandaged, Richard Wood partnering James McPake at the back with Freddy Eastwood and Clinton Morrison leading the attack.
There had been much talk as to whether Coventry would want Keiren Westwood cup-tied but the keeper started and we were glad he did.
As the City fans were demanding to know where the wages for the Pompey players were, the home side were quick to get at the Sky Blues. In the second minute, Westwood made a one handed save from a Tommy Smith cross and then got down to save when Kevin Boateng came in with a header.
The keeper targeted by Sunderland, then dealt with balls from Frederic Piquionne before James McPake received some thunderous applause from the City fans for a brilliant covering tackle to dispossess Tommy Smith.
City, who included a hard working Martin Cranie at left back against his former club, had been paying the home side too much respect and giving them too much space in which to find players.
Then on the half hour mark, City stunned the home fans and sent us barmy when Aron Gunnarsson, who had earlier, escaped a caution along with Boateng, for a bit of pushing and shoving, played a ball over to David Bell. The winger had some space and hit a wonderful shot which went across the goal and into the far corner of the net.
It was delight and joy in the away end and even Chris Coleman wrapped up in his black coat looked happy but the pressure from Portsmouth resurfaced. Westwood made a cracking save with his feet in the 38th minute from Piquionne who was again denied in the 41st minute when Westwood dived to his left to block his volley.
To the tune of the Band Aid song, the City fans sang:"Feed The Pompey, Let Them Know It's Christmas Time" but in first half stoppage time, Portsmouth were level thanks to the defence leaving Kevin Boateng completely unmarked four yards out and his header beat Westwood who ended up crashing into the post to level the match.
Westwood did not appear for the second half (reports of a virus later emerged) and Dimi took over for a second half which saw Portsmouth look more threatening on the break with City having to counter.
In the 54th minute, a surging run by McPake saw Clinton Morrison played in. Having just got past his man, the striker wasted a great chance by blasting over.
Asmir Begovic looked like he was struggling on his left hand side but City failed to capitalise on it.
After two home fans in the Main Stand had mooned as they were being ejected, Sammy Clingan who did well considering a lack of match practice, fired at Begovic with a 20 yarder.
In the 73rd minute, City made another change. Leon Best was brought on. First the number ten was displayed and Freddy Eastwood went off, only for the error to be discovered and Clinton Morrison was eventually replaced.
With neither side really sharp in front of goal, it always looked like the game was going to a replay and when Dimi made a good save in stoppage time, the replay at the Ricoh Arena on January 12th after a fair result, was confirmed.
After the game, we made our way home, whilst some City supporters offered a show of strength to the Portsmouth fans by joining in their protest against their board.